When the Raiders took Darrius Heyward-Bey with the seventh pick in the 2009 draft, it shook everything up. The Maryland product was considered a late first-round pick by most draft experts, but his excellent speed (a 4.3-second 40-yard dash) is just what Al Davis dreams of.Heyward-Bey was supposed to slip further in the draft because of questionable hands. The optimistic view is that Heyward-Bey has the size and speed to be an elite receiver if he can just learn to catch better. The pessimistic view is that most receivers don't develop better hands in the NFL.
So did the Raiders know something that everyone else missed on? As you would expect considering Oakland's recent track record, Heyward-Bey's debut was less than impressive.
Oakland threw Heyward-Bey's way six times on Monday night, but he didn't record a catch (two of those plays were called back because of penalties, but neither affected whether Heyward-Bey was going to make a catch or not). The best that could be said for Heyward-Bey was that he did draw an illegal contact flag on cornerback Quentin Jammer, which resulted in a first down.
That was the good news. But he also had a pair of drops on passes that hit his hands. His "best" play was an out route in which he came open 20 yards downfield, but quarterback JaMarcus Russell overthrew him by five yards.
Russell's inaccuracy will not help Heyward-Bey's development. The 2007 No. 1 pick struggles to complete passes that should be a part of any NFL quarterback's repertoire. But the Raiders are also hurting Russell's development by giving him a very inexperienced group of receivers to throw to. Fellow rookie Louis Murphy had a solid opener (4 catches for 87 yards, including a go-ahead 57-yard touchdown on a blown coverage), but Murphy was the only Raiders wide receiver to catch a pass all night. No. 3 receiver Johnnie Lee Higgins didn't catch any of the five passes thrown his way either. It's worth noting that Russell was 7-for-9 when throwing to tight ends and backs, but 4-for-19 when throwing to wide receivers.
The Raiders' only reliable receiver, Chaz Schilens, missed the opener with an injury, but anyone expecting Heyward-Bey to quickly become that No. 1 is likely to be sadly disappointed.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
JJ...I NOTICED YOU MADE NO MENTION OF THE TD THAT WAS STOLEN FROM THE RAIDERS AND WOULD HAVE WON THEM THE GAME...YOUR JUST ANOTHER RAIDER HATER AND A HACK
I've been a Raider hater all my life but that call that went against them was the worst call I have ever seen by the NFL and believe me I've sen some bad ones. That was against not the reciever but against Al Davis and it was disgusting.
It left no doubt in my mind that the NFL is fixed.
I told my wife in the 1st quarter of the New England game to turn it off because the Patriots were going to win by one point. They're a fan favorite and Buffalo isn't.
Also Look at the call against Cleveland.
I'm sick of it.
I feel bad for raiders fan, everywhere because this game should had been a blow-out for the raiders. Unfortunately they have a quarterback who's a waste of space. He cant throw for nothing.
I have been an Oakland fan since I was six years old, and have been there with them through the good and bad, but the play at the quarterback position is horrible. JaMarcus gets paid plenty of money to lead this team, but his inaccuracy is going to kill us. I was a huge fan of JaMarcus when he was at LSU, and I never thought I would say this, but "He may not be the answer."
JJ this is a piece of crap article and I am amazed that they pay you to write such biased crap! The Raiders got robbed on a lousy call and all you can whine about is Bey and gloss right over Louis Murphy's debut ... Raider hater and a biased reporter = Garbage! Everyone with a brain knows Bey is a project and the Raiders played a tough game and all you can do is whine about Bey? What a JOKE you are as a writer (a term I use lightly) Cooper ... You are another whining idiot!
This is why Crabtree is holding out. Darrius sucks but he got the big contract. I'd be pissed too if I were Crabtree. I know everyone think he's an idiot, making a big mistake, but this is a business and he is the best receiver to come out of the 2009 NFL draft and if he doesnt get paid like one there is something wrong with the system. Who gives a crap about slots. Pay him what he is worth. I guarantee you this will not be the end of Crabtree's name being thrown around.